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The last time Dublin and Meath met at Parnell Park 12 years ago, five players saw red, nine more were subsequently banned, the county boards were fined € 20,000 each and Dublin won.
There was less drama tonight, as Dublin secured a four-point win to banish any relegation concerns and keep alive the mathematical possibility of winning the league.
Already relegated, this was Meath’s sixth consecutive loss in his return to the top flight. One suspects Andy McEntee is more concerned about Leinster’s quarterfinals next month against Wicklow or Wexford, if it ever takes place. But his team performed credibly, although failing to take advantage of any of the three scoring opportunities they created spoiled any chance of winning their first league tie against Dublin since defeating them at Croke Park in October 1995.
This was Dublin’s first league game at the Donnycarney venue since March 2010 when they lost to Galway by one goal. But the world of soccer has been transformed since then, although probably not as dramatically as the world itself.
Stephen Cluxton eclipsed another record by becoming Dublin’s longest-serving player: he debuted in the Leinster Championship against Longford on May 27, 2001. At the start of his 20th season, he broke the record of another goalkeeper, Johnny McDonnell, who he played for Dublin between July 1919 and May 1938 and appeared on the Dublin team that played at Croke Park on Bloody Sunday in November 1920. Previously, he had been a member of Michael Collins’ squad that killed several British agents.
Yet it was Dean Rock who made the headlines early on, scoring a goal after a brief Meath serve went awry.
The score was historically important as it meant that Ballymun’s ace became Dublin’s top scorer of all time, topping Jimmy Keaveney’s 30-402 (492) tally. Rock’s goal brought his score to 17-442 (493). By the final whistle he had increased his lead to eight points after scoring 1-8. He accomplished the feat in 95 games compared to Keaveney’s 104.
Meath kept just two players, Cillian O’Sullivan and Shane Walsh, up front, but despite having an excess of bodies on defense, they struggled to keep up with Dublin’s attack. The home team targeted their kickoffs and at the first water break they were 1-5 to 0-3 ahead.
The visitors improved in the second quarter but found it even more difficult to score, but an indiscipline attack from the Dublin defense allowed Meath to organize a comeback when Tomas O’Reilly hit three free on top to reduce the deficit to four points (1 – 10; 0-9) at minute 30.
There was a decisive moment in stoppage time in the first half when on Meath’s best play, cornerback Eoin Harkin, who previously scored a point, combined with Cathal Hickey to pass, but Cluxton’s rapid advance stifled the effort by Cluxton. Hickey.
Meath was rewarded, however, when Dublin gave away another unnecessary free and accurate O’Reilly nailed it to leave three points between the sides at halftime (1-10, 0-10). Significantly, Meath outscored Dublin 5-1 in the final ten minutes of the half.
Although Brian Fenton scored a Dublin point with 14 seconds to go, a Meath double frees and Shane Walsh’s fourth point in the game made it a one-point game in the 43rd minute. Dublin’s indiscipline and unusual tendency giving away the ball left Meath looking better, but his lack of scoring opportunity totally underscored his efforts.
They let another chance slip in the 46th minute after Cillian O’Sullivan passed Shane Walsh, but their effort hit the side net. Cluxton deserved credit for the speed with which he moved out of line.
Having lost Jonny Cooper through injury, Dublin was fortunate not to lose John Small, who somehow escaped a second reserve for a challenge at Menton. But in the second half, Dublin still led 1-3 to 0-14 thanks to two releases from Rock.
In the fourth quarter, Dublin essentially played hold of the ball for long stretches that frustrated Meath and their scoring rate eventually improved as they outscored the Royals 5-4 in the final minutes to win by four, which didn’t do the effort justice. of Meath.
Top Scorers: Dublin: D Rock 1-8 (5f), C O’Callaghan C Kilkenny 0-4 (1m) 0-4 each, B Fenton and P Small 0-2 each.
Meath: T O’Reilly 0-6 (6f), S Walsh 0-4, C O’Sullivan 0-3 (2f), J Morris 0-2, B Menton, E Harkin, B Conlon, J Conlon 0-1 each .
Dublin: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, D Byrne, C Murphy, J Cooper, J Small, R McDaid; B Fenton, EO Conghaile; E Lowndes, C Kilkenny, N Scully; P Small, C O’Callaghan, D Rock. Subs: E Murchan for Cooper (46), B Howard for O Conghaile (48), C O’Sullivan for J Small (53), A Byrne for P Small (62), S Bugler for Lowndes (70)
Meath: M Brennan; D Toner, J McEntee, E Harkin, C Hickey, G McCoy, D Keogan; B. Menton, R. Jones; S McEntee, J Scully, E Devine; S Walsh, C O’Sullivan, T O’Reilly. Subs: J Morris for Devine (30), B Conlon for McCoy (39), D Campion for Scully (53), J Conlon for Walsh (60), D Lenihan for O’Reilly (66)
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
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